Anglo European School
Bulletin - w/c 24th January 2022 - Week 2
This half term the school starts its election process for our new Head Student team. This year we have decided to change the name of these elected posts. We will be referring to candidates as Head Students, to comply with the recommendations from our Student Committee to move to a more gender-neutral stance in the school. These are very important appointments as the head student team lead the Student Executive and Student Committees which comprise Anglo Student Voice across the school. They work closely with the School Leadership Team on the school improvement agenda and often act as Student Ambassadors for the school and can find themselves speaking at prestigious public forums such as the Education Select Committee in The House of Commons, the Foreign Office and with local MPs and councils, often leading on county and national projects. The selection process is therefore rigorous and demands resilience and strategic planning by the candidates.
This year's candidates have already passed their first test by gaining sufficient nominations from their peers and meeting our expectations regarding their academic performance and attendance. The next stage of the process was to pitch their policies in a virtual 'hustings' event to their Lower Sixth peers who had an opportunity to scrutinise them. The candidates used this feedback to finalise their policies which will then be presented in a manifesto before they are interviewed by Mrs Gee and Mr Newton to discuss them further. Those who successfully pass this stage of the process, impressing us as credible candidates with workable policies, will then move on to the final stage which will include a campaigning week leading up to a whole school vote on the 10th February. Our new Head Student team will then be announced the following day, ready to take up their posts when we return after Half Term.
We wish all our candidates the very best of luck with their applications.
International Enterprise Academy
In partnership with the Peter Jones Foundation, our International Enterprise Academy (IEA) launched this academic year. All students studying Business, Economics and Financial Studies courses access a variety of opportunities to develop their business acumen, understanding of the globalised working work and entrepreneurial competencies.
Students in our A Level Business course apply their learning to “Flash challenges”, set by multi-national corporations from the Peter Jones Foundation’s network. These challenges are tasked to solve real world dilemmas and business planning scenarios. Last term, the students embarked upon a challenge set by Sage (an accounting software company) who set a brief for the students to develop a business proposal which utilises “Artificial Intelligence for good”. The students diligently researched successful business activities in this industry and potential target customers, before creating an innovative proposal. The entries from our school were entered into the national competition alongside other Peter Jones Enterprise schools and we are delighted to announce that team “Elder Phone” won! The students comprising this team are Rhys, Roman, Lewis, Olivia and Prisca. This team designed a new smartphone concept targeted at consumers aged 65 and over, which included help buttons, icons to help minimise cognitive overload and voice recognition software to help with journey planning. The students were presented with their Amazon voucher prize by the Peter Jones Foundation at our World of Work Day event.
As a result of our partnership with the Peter Jones Foundation, students have access to entrepreneurs through guest speakers and mentoring opportunities. During our World of Work day, we were delighted to welcome Joana Baptista as a guest speaker. Joana inspired our Year 11 students, informing them of how she started three social enterprises before she was 18, giving advice and guidance to future budding entrepreneurs.
In addition, our enterprise club has welcomed over 50 students from all year groups to plan and develop their business ideas. It has been a joy to see our Sixth Form Business, Economics and Financial Studies students mentor some of our students in Years 7 and 8. As a result, we look forward to entering four teams into the “Tycoons” enterprise competition where students will create business proposals and apply for up to £2,000 in funding to start their business. Each group will be allocated a mentor from the Peter Jones Foundation to scrutinise their plans and ensure they are developed with ethical, financial and operational considerations in mind.
The broad offering of GCSE, A Level, Vocational and IB courses within the suite of Business, Economics and Financial Studies subjects ensures that all students with an entrepreneurial flair have the opportunity to access a suitable business-related course. We look forward to welcoming future cohorts and to continuing the success in our entries to national Peter Jones competitions.
Extended Project Qualification
Drama Performance
This week, as part of our Personal Development and Citizenship curriculum, students in Year 8 and Year 9 have been invited to watch a drama performance delivered by N-Act Theatre Company entitled 'Friend'. Friend is a powerful play about gangs based on true stories, presented in a courtroom with the audience taking on the role of the jury. One Year 9 student said that it was "very thought provoking" and another said it was "well written and made them stop and think". Thanks to Essex Youth Service and Safer Brentwood for funding these performances.
Parental Forum
We would like to say a big thank you to parents who took the time to join our latest parental forum which took place last week on the topic of reporting on student progress. Whilst there was lots of positive feedback around how our progress reports and parents' evenings work, some key ideas were raised about how we could further improve our reporting information to parents, including:
- our communication regarding how target grades for both KS3 and the Sixth Form students are calculated and whether these change at all during a student's academic journey
- whether in KS3 there is merit in an end of Key Stage prediction being issued for all years to help parents have a better understanding of the trajectory that their child is on
- in our comprehensive report, can we capture non-academic characteristics of the students, linked to our learner profile in a data format?
- whilst our new virtual parents' evenings have been well received, we will investigate some minor technology issues that parents were reporting, and additionally think about how we engage parents further with our Information Evenings for each year group in the Autumn term which offer another form of dialogue and support between the school and parents.
We look forward to welcoming parents to our next forum.
EDI Student Committee
Holocaust Memorial Day
Food Technology Showcase
Show-casing our International curriculum this week, Year 10 students have been making sushi . Mrs Curtis was very impressed with their achievements given that this was a new skill for most students.
Save the Date!
All information for this term's extra-curricular clubs can be found on the link below - which one will you join this term?
Sports Focus
The Year 8 boys football team played in the last 16 of the Essex cup on Friday. After a tight first half, the boys upped their game in the second half to win 6-0 to progress to the quarter finals; a fantastic achievement. Leo and Francesco were superb in defence, while Beau and Till dominated the midfield. Well done boys!
Covid Update
Covid Latest Guidelines
There have been several changes to Government guidance which come into place over the last couple of weeks and the School’s Risk Assessment has been updated and is available on the school website which reflects these changes.
In summary:
1) Self-Isolation periods:
Students and staff can end self-isolation period after 5 full days Under the new rules, students who are self-isolating with COVID-19 can now end their isolation period after 5 full days. To do so they must test negative using Lateral Flow Device (LFD) tests on both day 5 and day 6. The first test must be taken no earlier than day 5 and the second must be taken the following day. In order to return to school, your child must also not have a temperature. Those who are still positive on their LFD tests must stay in isolation until they have had 2 consecutive negative tests taken on separate days or until they have completed 10 full days of self-isolation, whichever is earliest.
Unvaccinated members of staff who are identified as close contacts are legally obliged to self-isolate for the full 10 days if they are contacted by NHS Test and Trace. Any additional isolation arrangements are at the school’s discretion.
2) Testing and Uploading of Results
All LFD test results should be reported online using Test Register which will link you to: Report a COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test result - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). We continue to strongly encourage all staff, students and all households to take part in regular testing, even when not showing symptoms. This will help to reduce the risk of the virus unknowingly entering the school community. You can access free LFD tests in a number of ways, through the school, at the local LFD site in your district, by collecting a home LFD kit from a test site, or by ordering online.
3) Temporary Suspension of the Confirmatory PCR Test
From 11th January, the Confirmatory PCR tests have been temporarily suspended. The Government guidance for those who have a positive LFD test result has also changed. If your child receives a positive LFD test result, they are no longer required to take a confirmatory PCR test. They must still self-isolate at home. This is a temporary measure while COVID-19 rates remain high across the UK. This means that for all education and childcare settings, staff and students who have tested (either at home or through ATS) and reported a positive LFD result will no longer be advised to get a confirmatory PCR test.
This change is informed by public health advice. With high COVID-19 rates, the risk of a positive LFD result being false is very small. We therefore don’t need to ask people to do a confirmatory PCR unless they:
- have symptoms (in which case they need to follow the stay at home guidance, self isolate and order a PCR test)
- wish to claim the Test and Trace Support Payment
- have been advised to take a PCR test because they are in a clinically vulnerable group
- have been advised to do so as part of a research or surveillance programme
4) Close Contacts:
Close contacts of confirmed cases of Coronavirus Recently the Government changed the rules regarding anyone identified as a close contact of a confirmed, positive Coronavirus case. These rules apply to close contacts of both the Delta and Omicron variants. Any child (aged between five and 18 years and six months) who is identified by NHS Test and Trace as a close contact of a COVID-19 case does not need to self-isolate. Instead, they should continue to attend their school, but are strongly encouraged to take daily LFD tests for seven days. If your child tests positive on an LFD test, they should isolate immediately.
5) Children with Coronavirus symptoms
If your child has COVID-19 symptoms, it remains the case that they should stay at home and self-isolate immediately. They should take a PCR test as soon as possible. If this PCR test result is positive, they must continue to self-isolate. You can book a PCR test for your child online: PCR Test Booking. Asymptomatic testing of children There is no change to the approach to asymptomatic testing.
6) Updated guidance on the use of face coverings in Exams and assessments in January
Examinations and assessments in January should go ahead as originally planned. Settings should liaise with their awarding organisation to make sure they have the latest information on adaptations to the delivery of the exams and assessments, and procedures for special considerations.
Following the temporary reintroduction of face coverings in classrooms, the public health guidance to support exams was updated on Sunday 2nd January. This guidance sets out that we would not ordinarily expect candidates and invigilators to wear face coverings during exams and assessments, but only on arrival and departure. Both candidates and invigilators may wear face coverings if they wish to do so.
7) Update on progress of the 12 to 15 year old COVID-19 vaccination programme
Phase 2 of the in-school vaccination programme for 12 to 15 year olds began on Monday 10th January. The school age immunisation service (SAIS) provider will be in school offering vaccinations on 9th and 10th February.
Issue of Lateral Flow Device Home Testing Kits
During the past couple of weeks those students eligible have been issued with further home testing kits by tutors. Any students who were not present on the day of issue can request them from Student Services. Further home test kits will be issued before Half Term.
Immunisation Update
Due to the 2nd Covid vaccinations now being offered to all 12 – 15 year olds, we have been advised by the School Aged Immunisation Service that the scheduled immunisation sessions for HPV, DTP & Men ACWY will be rescheduled for later this academic year. Please accept their apologies for any inconvenience this may cause, however, I am sure you will appreciate that the climate is ever changing currently and we are directed by Public Health England.
Face coverings
Just a reminder that following the change last week which removed the need to wear face masks in classrooms, from the 27th January it is no longer a legal requirement to wear face masks in shared communal areas either. However, we are allowing students and staff to continue to make a personal choice in this matter and will allow them to continue to wear masks if this makes them feel more comfortable in the school environment.
Infection Rates within School
We have had 1 member of staff and 20 students who have tested positive since last week.
OPPORTUNITIES
Vacancies at the Anglo
Do you know any teachers or Professional Support Staff who may be interested in joining our brilliant diverse community? Please look at our vacancies section on the website using the link below and feel free to share these with friends and colleagues.
College Open Days - Year 11 students
Key Dates
25th January-4th February: Year 11 Course Counselling
26th January: UCAS deadline
27th January: PPE Results morning for Year 11
28th January: Year 11, Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth Form Photos
3rd February: Year 9x Parents' Evening
7th February to 25th February: Year 9 Course Counselling
9th February: Year 10 Individual Photos
9th and 10th February: Vaccination Programme for 12-15 year olds
10th February: Year 9y Parents' Evening
As a reminder key dates for individual Year groups can be found on our website https://www.aesessex.co.uk/key-dates-term-dates/
Anglo Communication
Finance - finance@aesessex.co.uk
Attendance - attendance@aesessex.co.uk
Admissions - admissions@aesessex.co.uk
Email: enquiries@aesessex.co.uk
Website: aesessex.co.uk
Location: Anglo European School, CM4 0DJ, Willow Green, Ingatestone, UK
Phone: 01277 354018
Facebook: facebook.com/angloeuropeanschool
Twitter: @angloeuropean73